My Rich Heritage

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||



Our Country South Africa



Aum Namo Narayanaya

My loving pranams to you all. I trust that as South Africans we utilised Saturday (Heritage Day) to reflect upon and appreciate our heritage. As descendants of an immigrant community there is always sometimes ambiguity with regards to our identities. The cultural umbilical cord continues to nourish our love for our ancestral motherland.

At this point I recall the thunderous words of Swami Vivekanada when  he said: “What we
want are some young men who will renounce everything and sacrifice their lives for their country's sake.” For the love of His country Swamiji dedicated his life's breath for the emancipation of the masses who were displaying vivid signs of oppression and colonisation.

After spending three days and nights in deep contemplation and meditation at Kanya Kumari, Revered Swamiji proclaimed: “The best way to serve and seek God is to serve the needy, to feed the hungry, to help the fallen and friendless, irrespective of caste or creed.”

It is definitely the Dharma of an individual to give his life if need be in defending his land of birth, and to work for the welfare of all its citizens.

In terms of this duty no one has put it more eloquently than Swamiji when he said: “I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them! I call those men who strut about in their finery, having got all their money by grinding the poor, wretches, so long as they do not do anything for those two hundred millions who are now no better than hungry savages.”

Yes indeed, I am African and South African identify strongly with the words  of our former President Thabo Mbeki when he said:

I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land. My body has frozen in our frosts and in our latter day snows. It has thawed in the warmth of our sunshine and melted in the heat of the midday sun. The crack and the rumble of the summer thunders, lashed by startling lightening, have been a cause both of trembling and of hope.

The fragrances of nature have been as pleasant to us as the sight of the wild blooms of the citizens of the veld. The dramatic shapes of the Drakensberg, the soil-coloured waters of the Lekoa, iGqili, noThukela, and the sands of the Kgalagadi, have all been panels of the set on the natural stage on which we act out the foolish deeds of the theatre of our day.

At times, and in fear, I have wondered whether I should concede equal citizenship of our country to the leopard and the lion, the elephant and the springbok, the hyena, the black mamba and the pestilential mosquito. A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our native land thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say - I am an African!

In saying this, I can never deny though, my lineage back to the great sages of India, who have through immense austerities and penance handed down the most profound knowledge and value systems for the welfare of humanity. I therefore feel proud and with this knowledge as the basis of my existence I am in a better position to contribute positively to my country and people.

On this important day, the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple launched the Narayana Seva Grain Bank, which will provide hot meals to the hungry on a weekly basis at first and then seek to increase the frequency as the project gains momentum.

As part of this seva a wonderful addition was added to the temple, which is practiced in many Narayana temples in India. The Thullabaram (scale) where devotees make an offering equivalent to their body weight was also launched. Devotees will be able to donate grains and items equal to their body weight towards the feeding project. Without a doubt they will receive the divine grace of the Lord.

This project is not done as a mere charity but with the motive of serving the Lord in man and will lend impetus to nation building and driving the social and development agenda of our country.

I sincerely pray that we appreciate our heritage and work selflessly for the welfare of our country in all respects, whilst preserving the rich lineage of our sages and saints of India.

This week millions of Hindus throughout the world will commence the festival of Navarathri - the nine nights of worship dedicated to the Divine Mother.  The Mother in our dharma has been given the highest form of respect. She is always respected first, yes even before God - as the famous saying goes: “Mataa, Pitha, Guru, Devam” which translates to “Mother, Father, Guru and God”.

She is unmatched in compassion and love and will give her life for her children. In the same manner one’s county is one’s motherland and if one respects and reveres their country, she will reciprocate with her all embracing motherly love.

I take this opportunity is wishing all observing Navarathri the grace of the Divine Mother and may you have the opportunity to feel Her love.

With love and prayers always

Rama Bhajanalu

|| Sri  Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

Let me start this blog by wishing all those observing Purutassi and Pitr Paksh a very rewarding and divine experience. I am sure that the tone and bhav has been set to experience the grace and love of the divine during this period.



Sri Sita Ramachandra Lakshmana and Hanumanji



The month started with much impetus at the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple when we hosted the annual Raam Bhajanalu Festival at the temple yesterday. A huge crowd gathered, although it was the final day to indulge in feasting before the month long fast.
As I witnessed the Bhajan, it occurred to me how great the force of God was that it broke down barriers that have been established by man. I speak of the language and cultural partitions that have wedged us. It was inspiring to see how Tamil speaking youngsters sang and performed this Telegu  folk art of Andhra Pradesh with relative ease.

I am not an expert on Andhra culture, and was indeed appreciative of the erudite article researched and presented by Dr Pravine Naidoo (Attorney of the High Court of SA) on the origins of the Raam Bhajanalu. With his kind permission I have reproduced it here for you to enrich your knowledge on the subject.
 
 Article begins

Raama Bhajanalu is one of the most popular folk arts, and has for centuries been a vehicle of self-expression and fulfills the needs of the spiritual-minded Telugu rural folk of the Andhra Pradesh State in South India.
Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana is a form of dance accompanied by the striking of cymbals as well as striking of wooden pieces of one or half feet long and about 3 inch wide to the ends of which two round brass or iron pieces are fixed. Bells are placed in the center by making holes. They are held against each other in between the palm. The jingling music produced when the palm is opened and closed, along with the song is very pleasing to hear to which the dancers dance. Chirata is a smaller instrument, which is 8 inch to 9 inch long and 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch wide.

They are used especially to sing songs in praise of Lord Rama and the performance is known as Rama Bhajana and the performers ‘Rama Dandu’.  In the 'old' days each village had a trained group (dandu) of Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana dancers, who used to move with two (02) kola lamps/torches and an idol of Lord Rama from one village to the other. Villagers used to learn it during the lean months of summer, when they are relatively free from agriculture work. It is obligatory to the Rama-Dandu of the next village to receive the bhajana troupe and the idol and take it to the next village. Ultimately, after touring several villages on the way, the troupes reach Bhadrachalam on the Rama Navami day and pay their homage to Lord Raama.
There are innumerable troupes all over Andhra Pradesh, which perform the Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana even today. They are however limited to their villages, mostly in North Eastern Coastal Andhra Pradesh (Vishakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram, Srikakulam Districts).

The Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana group consists of about 16 to 20 artists. The artists are dressed in simple, yet, colorful costumes - a dhoti, a waistcloth, a colored kerchief around the neck, a garland, flower bracelets on the hands, ankle bells and a smear of vermilion on the forehead. Each dancer carries his "chekkas" with much adoration.

The performance contains several Telugu songs to varying rhythms called ‘kopus’. There are about 100 Kopus or adugulu in which a particular song is sung. Every song contains several kopus, based on the variations.  In this performance, there is a main singer who initiates each song and sings a line, which is repeated by the others. The commencing steps are known as Adi Adugu (beginning steps). This is compulsory item. The other steps are known as Potu Adugu, Kuppadugu, Kulukula Adugu, Joku Adugu, Nemili Adugu, Gurappu Adugu, Uyyala Adugu.

Most of the Telugu bhajana are dedicated to Lord Raama, Lord Narayana (Maha Vishnu / Venkateshwara), Narasimha Deva Swami & Simhadri Appana Swami.  With its great variety, innate devotion and an element of drama, Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana is the most popular form of narrative art in Andhra Pradesh.
It is a matter of immense pride that the descendants of those Andhra-Telugu forebears in Andhra Pradesh are still propagating, preserving and advancing their rich linguistic, religious and cultural traditions in South Africa to date.

 Article Ends

We understand that we must internalise these practices for our spiritual growth. I recall in one discourse revered Swamiji Vimokshananda spoke of “su” meaning to be in tune. This Bhajan is sincerely appreciated when the singing, dancing, cymbal and drum playing are in sync. If not, it would present as a huge irritation. In the same way we must synchronise our mind, word, thoughts and actions with our spiritual consciousness.
Then we will be well constituted to radiate the divinity that is latent within each of us.

Those whose faculties are not in tune with the divine consciousness can be referred to as 'asuric', a word we all would have come across in many of our puranas.

Let us all resolve during this auspicious period to make constructive changes in to our lives to navigate towards divinity. Take the name of God, apply it to our physical being, mental being and spiritual being and slowly all our asuric qualities will fade away. 

Till next week, may you enjoy a blessed week.
With love and prayers always.

Purutassi - A Month of Spirtual Elevation

||Shri Ramakrishna Sharanam||                               

Aum Namo Narayanaya


Thirupathi Balaji

The month of September not only heralds the season of Spring and rejuvenation but signals the time to spring-clean mind and body and set upon austerities for one's spiritual progress. Yes indeed, I speak of the month long fast in which predominantly South Indians will undertake. With just about a week to go before this auspicious month begins, many households would have commenced their annual cleanup in preparation for the significant period which is associated with cleanliness, purity and devotion.

This prayer is associated with Lord Venketeshwara or Emperumal as he is affectionately known in many quarters. It is known that worship of Narayana comes with immense sacrifice, austerity and purity in all fronts. Worship to Him in this month is concentrated on Saturdays (regarded as His special day) with preparation of simple vegetarian dishes or simply fruit and milk. Special hymns are recited followed by chants of “Govinda Govinda” - sending immense energy and positive vibrations into the air, and churning the minds and hearts of all with His sweet name (meaning 'the protector of all').

Although many have associated this month with the harvest and monsoons in India, we have come to learn that all rituals and prayers in Hindu Dharma have been introduced deliberately to  invoke introspection and divine feelings on the highway  to self realisation or God realisation. If these were not introduced at periodic intervals, then man would continue his mundane existence and only turn to God when in trouble. It is possible for us to lead a life of constant bliss if we are in regular communion with God.

Fasting is generally associated with a total abstinence of any food for a particular period.  Although many devotees undertake a fast on the Saturdays on which worship is offered, the month is usually observed with the abstinence of meat, alcohol and sense pleasures as a means of purifying the physical being. The term that would be most appropriate to this month is Upavasa. Vasa means to reside and Upa means near.

This month is therefore an attempt through certain austerities and sacrifices to reside close to God. Lord Venketeshewara who resides on the seven hills of Thirupathi is referred to as the Lord who burns all sins (Ven – sins, keta - burn, eshwara – God). The temple of the Lord whose dome is adorned in pure gold is situated on the top of the seven hills. The seven hills represent the seven deadly desires that prevent us from reaching the house of God. They are lust, greed, gluttony, anger, hatred, dishonesty and ego or pride. When one starts on the pilgrimage from Thirupathi to Thirumala on foot, one understands the journey of life more easily. Along the way you will pass the various temples dedicated to the various forms or avatars of Lord Narayana indicating and directing us to evolve from the baser level to our true nature of divinity.

Sri Ramakrishna says "Desires are like holes in a vessel. We can work extremely hard to fill the vessel but all the contents will leak out."
 

 In the same way, all penance and spiritual efforts are leaked through the holes of desire. If we are able to overcome the seven deadly desires in life we can find that Lord that we all seek - like finding the glorious golden abode at the end of the seven hills of Thirumala. The Thirumala that we all want is in our hearts. By cleaning our external through the observance of fasts we strengthen the will and mind to transcend the desires which cloud the divinity within.  Replacing all these desires with pure devotion and love for God will allow to be close to him. Srinivasa which is another name for Venketeshwara means the Mother Luxmi who resides in the Lord. In the same way, if we purify both our external and internal being then the Lord will reside in our hearts. We will thus be in constant communion with him ensuring we are bathed in His complete mercy and bliss always.
 

The Shree VeeraBoga Emperumal Temple will be commencing the month of Purtassi with a special Raam Bhajan on 17th September 2011 commencing at 17:30pm. Thereafter, the first week will be celebrated on 24th September 2011 commencing at 16:00pm. This will continue every Saturday thereafter culminating on the last Saturday 15th October 2011 with the reading of the Veeraboga Sarithram. Supper will be served and all are welcome. I take this opportunity in wishing all those who are observing this auspicious month, the grace of Lord Narayana.

With Love and Prayers Always

Swami Vivekananda for World President



|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

We have entered the season of rejuvenation and growth. Already signs of life have emerged unscathered from the clasps of the barren slumber. An impetus for activity has caught on and there seems to be no chance of abating the spirit as a flurry of colour twinned with a metamorphosis in fashion taking centre stage.



Swami Vivekananda



Concurrently with natures resurgence we are spectators to a phenomenal resurgence or activism that has captivated the globe at various points. What started in Egypt has sparked a wave and series of mass mobilising against regimes that have failed to meet the demands of the people. These unchecked volcanoes of discontent, frustration and social injustice can no longer hold its contents of fury.

South Africa is also not immune to this volcanoe as hundreds of disenfranchised youth threw their weight behind their youth leader for his vociferous call for policy change in land redistribution and mine management in our country. This will continue to be a regular occurrence until the capital elites stop self enriching and send their thoughts towards the masses in poverty.

Swami Vivekananda said,” my whole ambition in life is to set in motion machinery which will bring noble ideas to the door of every day. Work hard, be steady and have faith in the Lord, elevation of the masses without injuring their religion. Remember that the nation lives in the cottage and nobody ever did anything for them. Can you raise them (the masses) can you give them back their lost individuality without losing their innate spiritual nature?  Can you become an occidental of occidentals in your spirit of equality, freedom, work and energy and at the same time a Hindu to the very backbone in religious and cultural instincts? This is to be done and we will do it, we are all born to do it. Have faith in yourselves, great conviction is the mother of all great deeds.

Swamji was a strong advocate and champion of the poor masses and lobbied to improve their condition. The teachings of Swamiji placed emphasis on man making education to augment the social values and moral fabric of society as expounded by the ethical ideology of Vedanta.

Swamiji a monk of the Ramakrishna Mission and Math was way ahead of his time in terms of the trajectory that India must take in order to raise from the ashes of exploitation and colonialism which left her destitute. Being a monk Swamiji has thought us that detachment does not mean aversion. Sri Ramakrishna also pointed out that there is nothing wrong with making money so long as it is utilised for the goal of god realisation.

In this material age money is an essential component to satisfy the basic needs of the body, without which the higher goals of spiritual advancement become attenuated.



Swamiji



Swamiji’s travels to the West and Asia made a tremendous impact on his vision to raise India, his focus was to take up industrialization to move the economy. He said,” if I can get some unmarried graduates, I may try and make arrangements to send them to Japan to get some technical education there. So when they come back they can turn their knowledge to the best account for India. The secret to Japans success is that they have taken the knowhow from Europe but remain Japanese, whilst in our country the mania of Westernism has gripped us like the plague. Due to this westernisation agriculture which is an important economic driver had taken a back seat.  Government policies and leaders have failed to stimulate these sectors of the economy by easing access to capital finance and subsiding agriculture yet support and nurture selfish capitalists.

The question that claims our attention then, we live in a world with so much knowledge, resources and science why can’t we rid the world of poverty and starvation? The answer is simple, greed which leads to corruption results in non delivery of services and assistance to the citizens. This is not new and has been happening from more than 3000 years. Evidence of which can be found in our scriptures. This has prompted great minds of the times to give guidance on this malaise.  When one reads the Arthashastra of Vishnu Gupta or Kauthilya , one can see the guidelines in running an ideal state that will ensure good governance for the welfare of the masses of people.

The way forward for leaders and policy makers is to latch onto Swamijis ideas on poverty eradication. We should and must take his vedantic approach, “Look upon every man and woman as God alone. You cannot help anyone; you can only serve the children of God. If the Lord grants that you can help anyone one of his children, blessed are you. Do not think much of yourself. Blessed you are that the privilege was given to you when others have it not. Do it only has worship. I should see God in the poor, and it is for my salvation that I go and worship them.

What a profound philosophy Swamiji has given us, which when practiced with sincere devotion will instil within each one of us an expansive heart which will see the divinity in everyone irrespective of their circumstances and at once without hesitation make us serve them as the very father who created this universe. Where in there will we find the room for arrogance, greed and selfishness?

Let us as Swamiji said, accumulate “power “in silence and become dynamos of spirituality.

Viva Swamiji Viva !!!!! 

Ganesha My Sweet Lord



Lord Ganesha



|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

In attempting to write this blog on this very interesting topic my thoughts nostalgically find itself in Chennai three years ago. Amidst the beating sounds of the tuk-tuk (mini taxis in India) and the annoying  intrusions of the multiple horns blaring for attention, my senses wafted towards the soothing incense that permeated the air from down below. And suddenly everything was interrupted by about three or four significant thuds to the ground.

I immediately made my way to the window of my hotel room to find a sizeable gathering around a dainty shrine which housed a deity of Lord Ganesha. The thuds originated from the coconuts that were slammed against the stoney and broken asphalted surface. Rather mechanically, everybody started tapping the side of their heads with a clinched fist as the priest broke the silence with the harmonious ringing of the bell and the melodious rendition of Aum Suklambaradarham Vishnum.

Aum
Shuklambaradharam Vishnum
Shashivarnam Chaturbhujam
Prasannavadanam Dhyaayeth
Sarvavighnopashantaye

Suklambaradaram - one who wears a white garment
Visnum - all pervading
Sasivarnam - one who has a brilliant complexion (like the full moon)
Chaturbhujam - one who has four hands
Prasannavadanam - one who has an ever smiling and benevolent face
dhyayet - I meditate upon
Sarvavighnopashantaye- for the removal of all obstacles

It is no wonder then, that those who pass this shrine on their way to whatever activity they are going to engage in to offer their pranams and love to that Lord who has the ability to remove all obstacles. In South India Lord Ganesha is commonly refered to as Pillayar and eulogized as Mudalvana (one who is first worshipped).

Shrines like the one outside my hotel are very common in every village, town and city in India. You will be fooling yourself if you think that you can travel more than 100m without embracing some form of Ganesha. The iconography of this most unusual yet magnetic form of the divine finds itself on shop signage, doorways, car dashboards, wedding cards, temple architecture, shrines and many unthought-of places.
It is through the obsession of man to have a life free of challenges and obstacles that Lord Ganesha is propitiated throughout the length and breadth of the world, not only by Hindus but other religious denominations as well.

There is no prayer, function or activity amongst most Hindus that will take place without first offering their pranams to Ganesha to ensure that whatever obstacles that may obstruct that activity about to be undertaken should be removed.

However I am reminded that last year during the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, revered Maharaj Swami Vimokshananda in his discourse mentioned that although worshipped for His grace in removing all obstacles, He is also known for placing obstacles in the path of devotees. The dichotomy of benevolence and malevolence surely arises from His mercy to help His devotees discriminate between their needs and desires.
We must not forget our role and purpose of god realisation - to search for that divinity that is within each and everyone of us. Often enough we are gripped with chronic materialism and focus our attention and resources in that direction. It is then that the Lord will place obstacles to dissuade you from going down the wrong path for your own good and protection.
 



Lord Vinayaga



We are all in search of joy and bliss. But along the journey in this material plane we enjoy just temporary jolts of joy interrupted ever so much by pain and despondency.  I refer back to Maharaj's discourse when He said that Lord Ganesha’s favorite food is the Modaka or Modagam as pronounced in Tamil - a sweet dumpling prepared by the millions to be offered to the Lord as his most preferred dish on his special day.
This Modaka (Moda means joy) is what we all desire at every moment in our life’s journey. The bliss that we seek is possible if we follow some simple rules as displayed through the form of Ganesha.
The large ears and small mouth asks us to speak little and listen more, the small eyes are personification of concentration. The axe dictates we should chop away at the bonds of attachment , the one broken tusk to suggest that we keep the good and get rid of the bad and the small mouse (representing desires) as his vehicle is most significant as it strongly implies that we must bring our desires under control. Bring our desires under control makes way for a clean clear mind which will act as a mirror and reflect the divinity that is within you.  You can thus enjoy the Modagam of divine bliss.

The other form that Vinayagar is worshipped as is Aumkar or Aum. Aum is said to be the sound with which the entire creation resonates in. It is the frequency at which divinity is spread and permeates the universe. So if we want to attract divinity and the prosperity of the Universe it is wise that we modulate on this frequency of Aum rather than challenge or oppose it.

It is on this note that i would like to sign off this blog and invoke Lord Vinayagar in prayer for the welfare of all in this creation. May he preside over your life so you may obtain the modaka of immortality is my sincere prayer.
With Love and Prayers always
Aum Gam Ganapataye Namah

The Journey from Kurukshetra to Gokul Brindavan

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

The more we sit down and reflect on the Gita, the more we see ourselves as Arjuna, trapped between the fields of confusion and doubt sown with the seeds of despondency. As we engage with this world devoid of a spiritual foundation we create more demons and plenty nutrition for the despondency which eventually overwhelms us. All we do as we live this mundane life is continuously trim the weeds of pain, allowing just periodic pelts of joy. The rains of circumstances further bring woes in midst’s of your troubles clouding all hope, forcing one to recess into the foetal position and cry.  Oh yes, even mighty men have not escaped the lethal release of the tear ducts taking strain from a gutted heart or a grief stricken mind.

Bala Krishna

Who said all was rosy in the world. Those you who trust and open your hearts out to unconditionally will hurt you the most. That’s what the Veeraboga Sarithram has been saying all along, that we will see a 180 degree phase shift in this dark time. Many psychologists have referred to man as a social being, saying that relationships and interaction with people are an integral part of his existence. However the dynamics of these relationships is often the cause of the Kurukshetra in our lives.

Shree Krishna had presented the Gita to Arjuna as the panacea of human misery clearly unlocking the serum of joy within each of us to douse the flames of anxiety and despondency. Truth be told, the Lord never related anything new to Arjuna but only made him understand his true nature and his ability to awaken the latent divinity within him.

The Bhagavad Gita in my opinion is the ultimate reference book in the field of psychology placing Shree Krishna as the father of psychology. When he speaks of the mind being the friend as well as the enemy we get a sense that he portrays the mind is an instrument of immense influence in our lives and spiritual development.  It is the nucleus of our emotions. Emotions are like a person wearing sun shades. The colour of the shades will determine the colour with which one perceives the environment. If our mind is constituted with grief and sorrow then irrespective of the environment we are in, the perception will be grief and sorrow. The same applies vice versa.

Then the ideal would be to construct the mind in perpetual joy to ensure that we see the world that way. What then is the thread of weakness in our mind’s activity that does not allow us to configure perennial joy?  I would highlight one very significant obstacle as expectation (fruits of our actions). It has become a norm of sorts that whenever we perform any action we expect something in return. In other words, we participate in conditional activities which favour us with a handsome reward.

If the result is positive then we ok, but let the result be negative then all hell breaks loose. Giants have crumbled over emotional turmoil and grief. We must act with unconditional love, never expect anything return for your actions. Shree Krishna said:  “You are entitled to act, however the fruits of your actions you are not entitled to”. Be like Surya (the Sun), always giving indiscriminately your love and affection with no thought what so ever about the return.  That is the secret of happiness and joy. Shree Ramakrishna said if you repeat the word Gita several times, the secret of its message is revealed “Gita Gita Gita”. If you look closely you will see the words Tagi, which roots in Sanskrit Tyagi (meaning to renounce or sacrifice).

Krishna in Brindavan

Renounce the fruit of your actions and you can be on your way to perennial joy. What do we substitute in return for the fruit of our action? The Lord said “Perform all actions as an offering to me alone”. Make every action as worship to the Lord. Build in your heart and mind Gokul Brindavan.  A village of eternal happiness, play along the Yamuna with Krishna, dancing with the Gopis, sleeping perched under the canopy of a banyan tree with the tranquilising effect of the flute. The days and nights are seamlessly impregnated with his blue complexion and radiant love. Take joy and happiness from that alone. Live with Krishna every moment of your life that is the only fruit you need. 

The journey of our life is beautifully portrayed in the Srimad Bhagavatam when the most poetic description of the arrival of Shri Krsna is penned. I can extract mentally the jubilation the universe experienced, right from the devas, gods, and goddesses as they eagerly awaited the appearance of  Bala Krishna, the Paramathma, unmanifest Brahman to take human birth by his grace and mercy for the salvation of his beloved children. The Bhagavatam says even Yamuna rose her waters to take darshan of his divine lotus feet.

Even in his birth a very profound message he has delivered to us. He was born at midnight (referred to many as the ghostly time) in a jail cell in the dark phase of the moon to shackled parents. Bhagawan firstly dispelled the myth as any time being inappropriate and inauspicious.  By his will all the chains were broken and he was carried on a basket by his father across the raging Yamuna to Gokul to be raised by Nanda Baba and Ma Yashoda. The place Brindavan as I explained in the paragraphs above was heaven on earth.

Bhagwan Krishna on Vasudev's head

The profound message in the above narration is that from our eternal immortal state we are all born into bondage of this material limited body. By our own will and thirst for liberation we must cross the ocean of samsara (this life) with the Lord firmly fixed in our minds (like how Vasudeva had Shri Krishna in a basket  on his head). With this type of approach even any challenges that may pose an obstacle to your progress in spiritual life will bow at your feet (like the raging Yamuna in flood bowing to the feet of Krishna).

Finally, you must realise that like Krishna spending just a few hours with Vasudeva and Devaki, and growing up with Nanda and Yashoda in Brindavan. Our material parents are only temporary like everything on this earth, we must journey through this maya to reach our Gokul and live with our real eternal parents, the divine mother and father.

So in essence our life’s purpose is to journey from Kurukshetra to Gokul.  From the battlefield of life to the eternal abode of our father.

May this Krishna Janmasthami bring you eternal joy and bliss is my sincere prayer. Happy Krishna Janmasthami to all!!!



Bhagawan Sri Krishna The World Teacher

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

                                                                                                    



Bhagawan Sri Krishna



I felt like a little kid waiting in anticipation for his favourite show to start as the glorious Gita Week commences today. Although the Gita Jayanti celebrations actually take place in the month of December we must applaud the individual responsible for introducing the Gita discussions 8 days prior to the advent of its orator.

It in a sense it gives us a chance to understand Krishna of the Gita and Krishna of the Bhagavatam. Like in life we often hear people speak of how one plays different roles in life, like father, friend, son, teacher etc we have an opportunity to analyse in this week Krishna as the Jagat Guru (world teacher)

The great sage Veda Vyasas  shines as an author beyond comparison  as he dishes out to the readers the most youthful and serious personalities of the Lord with immaculate skill through the Bhagavatam and Gita.

If I had to sample the entire world without discrimination I would return with knowledge that every person in his/her life would have suffered from heartache, mental confusion, depression, despondencies which would have resulted in terrible and major setbacks in one’s life.

We are so careful and weary of physical ailments but totally neglect mental and emotions of the heart. Medical professionals will tell you that many of the physiological ailments are a direct result of psychological events.

When we are born our parents do their duty by immunising us against physiological diseases but fail to immunise us against the greatest threats to our lives being a weak mind and heart.

That is what world physician Shree Krishna came to dispense, the immunisation against weakness and all that saps the inspiration, energy and joy from your life.

We see a complete change of disposition from prankster Krishna to Teacher when he assumes charge of the crisis Arjuna created for himself.

The manner in which the Gita is packaged brings forth just the pure spoken intense knowledge of the Vedanta devoid of the flowery poetry. We find many opt for the light easy reading of the Bhagavatam.

 But in essence Shree Krsna declares that the cause of the despondency, weakness and pain in this world can be attributed to attachment, desire and expectation. Take a while and reflect upon this and see if it is not true. Everything in life is by the will of God alone. There is nothing that you and I can do to change that. Sri Ramakrishna explained in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna a story how a man went through many hardships but felt no pain because at every step of his life he repeated by the will of Rama. (meaning all by his divine grace alone)

On Thursday last week I had the blessed opportunity to have a discussion with revered Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj over a lovely cup of tea. In our discussion Maharaj disclosed that in his Gita classes he has completed chapter 5 after 5 years of discourses.

Therefore it will be an injustice to this glorious work of Sage Veda Vyasa to say that I can give you the explanation of this eternal wisdom in a single blog. What I will attempt however is to give you the essence of the lords philosophy in mitigating the pains, weakness and despondencies that subdue and attenuate our intrinsic blissful nature.

• Why do you worry without cause? Whom do you fear without reason? Who can kill you? The soul is neither born, nor does it die.
• Whatever happened, happened for the good; whatever is happening, is happening for the good; whatever will happen, will also happen for the good only. You need not have any regrets for the past. You need not worry for the future. The present is happening...
• What did you lose that you cry about? What did you bring with you, which you think you have lost? What did you produce, which you think got destroyed? You did not bring anything - whatever you have, you received from here. Whatever you have given, you have given only here. Whatever you took, you took from God. Whatever you gave, you gave to him. You came empty handed, you will leave empty handed. What is yours today, belonged to someone else yesterday, and will belong to someone else the day after tomorrow. You are mistakenly enjoying the thought that this is yours. It is this false happiness that is the cause of your sorrows.





Lord giving Arjuna Instructions


• Change is the law of the universe. What you think of as death, is indeed life. In one instance you can be a millionaire, and in the other instance you can be steeped in poverty. Yours and mine, big and small - erase these ideas from your mind. Then everything is yours and you belong to everyone.
• This body is not yours, neither are you of the body. The body is made of fire, water, air, earth and ether, and will disappear into these elements. But the soul is permanent - so who are you?
• Dedicate your being to God. He is the one to be ultimately relied upon. Those who know of his support are forever free from fear, worry and sorrow.
• Whatever you do, do it as a dedication to God. This will bring you the tremendous experience of joy and life-freedom forever.(this synopsis was taken from the net)

I pray through this small presentation I have wet your appetite to take up the reading of these beautiful works of Vedanta that help us migrate from this bonded life to that of an eternal state of freedom and bliss(ananda)

Aum Namo Bhagavadev Vasudevaya

Mothers the nucleus of creation

Mother Luxmi

                                                                    

Since the beginning of this month I have not been able to escape the elaborate publicity that has flooded our space in terms of the Women’s day celebrations that will unfold throughout the country on August 9.

What a lovely thought to appreciate and recognise women for their efforts in the freedom struggle of our country. On this day in 1956 the country and world had a preview of woman power when women marched onto the lawns of the Union buildings to show their dissatisfaction against the pass laws.

However from a pure Hindu perspective we have never showed any disrespect or discrimination towards women. In fact we have but placed her on the highest pedestal of the social order. There is a beautiful saying which reads  Maata, Pitha, Guru, Devam which when translated means , Mother, father, Teacher and then God.

It is indeed a remarkable co-incidence that this event took place right in the midst of a period in Hindu practice when so much praise and worship is dedicated to the divine mother. We are currently in the month of Aadi and will be celebrating Luxmi Pooja on 12 August followed closely in a few weeks by Navarathri (a full 9 night festival to mother).

Woman or the feminine aspect plays a very important and interesting role in Hindu philosophy. The feminine aspect of the divine is respectfully referred to as Shakti or the power. There is god, but that which is the force with which this god acts is known as Shakti.

You will notice that when gods are addressed they are always done with the name of the Shakti first, like Uma Maheshwara , Luxmi Narayana, Radhe Krishna and so on.

Another wonderful example which we will come across soon is that of Lord Srinivasa. During the holy month of Purutassi Lord Srinivasa is worshipped extensively with devotion for his grace. The word Srinivasa means the one who houses Luxmi(Sri) in his heart.

Mother Luxmi Devi is renowned the world over for bestowing prosperity in the form of material and spiritual wealth. Would we all not like to have the Divine Mother Luxmi reside in our hearts? Look how prosperous Lord Srinivasa of Thirupathi is.

We need to prepare our hearts to house the divine mother. She is the most beautiful, merciful and gracious of all therefore our hearts need to match that of the Lord of Vaikunta. We need not doubt that it is possible.

We need to utilise our hearts to act in the following manner:

Serve the Lord in the whole of humanity, in the sick, and destitute. Feed the hungry, have no fear, provide protection for yourself and others, raise dharmic children ,create wealth through honest means and dispose of it in a dharmic way, act with love and faith in god so victory is certain and seek knowledge and truth.  In acting this way you would have espoused the eight qualities of the Mother Luxmi who is known as Ashta Luxmi (eight forms).



Astha Luxmi



                                                                       

1. Adi Lakshmi:  Mother Lakshmi resides with Lord Narayana in the Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Narayana.  Divine Mother’s this form is normally seen serving Sri Narayana.  Lord Narayana is omnipresent.  Adi Lakshmi serves Sri Narayana is symbolic of her serving the whole creation.  Though Sri Narayana is attended by innumerable devotees, still she personally loves to serve the Lord.  Actually mother Adi Lakshmi and Narayana are not two different entities but one only.  Many a place we see her form sitting in the lap of Sri Narayana.
2. Dhanya Lakshmi:  Dhanya means grains.  This includes all kind of purified food containing all essential vitamins, minerals, protein, calcium, carbohydrate and so on.  With the grace of mother Dhanya Lakshmi one gets all essential nutrients grains, fruits, vegetables and other foods.
3. Dhairya Lakshmi:  This form of mother Lakshmi grants the boon of infinite courage and strength.  Those, who are in tune with infinite inner power, are always bound to have victory. Those who worship mother Dhairya Lakshmi they live and lead a life with tremendous patience and inner stability.
4. Gaja Lakshmi:  In the holy book of Srimad Bhagavata the story of the churning of the ocean by Gods and demons is explained in detail.  Author, the Sage Vyasa writes that Lakshmi came out of the ocean during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan).  So she is known as a daughter of the ocean. She came out of the ocean sitting on a full-bloomed lotus and also having lotus flowers in both hands with two elephants by her sides, holding beautiful vessels filled with milk and pouring it over Sri Lakshmi.  Many a time we see Sri Lakshmi standing in the lotus and elephants are pouring nectar over her. During the festival of the lamps or the Deepavali along with Sri Lakshmi the Ganapati or the Elephant God also gets worshipped; that signifies the protection from evils as well as abundant grace and blessings for additional prosperities!
5. Santan Lakshmi:  In the family life, the children are the greatest treasure. Those who worship this particular form of Sri Lakshmi, known as a Santan Lakshmi, are bestowed with the grace of mother Lakshmi and have wealth in the form of desirable children with good health & long life.
6. Vijay Lakshmi:  Vijay is victory.  Vijay is to get success in all undertakings and all different facets of life. Some are strong physically but weak mentally while others are economically rich but poor in their attitude and cannot exert any influence. Vijay is to have all encompassing victory. Vijay is to rejoice glory of our real nature – Vijay is to conquer the lower nature.  Hence those, with grace of mother Vijay Lakshmi, have victory everywhere, at all time, in all conditions. Victory to Vijay Lakshmi !!
7. Dhana Lakshmi:  Dhana is wealth.  But as per Rigved’s Purush Shukta Dhana is not only a wealth in coins and currency.  Even Sun and moon, fire and stars, rains and nature, oceans and mountains, rivers and streams, all these are our wealth, so are the progeny, our inner will power, our character and our virtues. With the grace of mother Dhana Lakshmi we will get all these in abundance.
8. Vidya Lakshmi: Vidya is education. Education is not mere studies to receive the degrees and diplomas certificates from the educational institutes or universities. It is also the knowledge of scriptures and self. So we may attain the goal of life being self realisation.

 It is my sincere prayer, as we celebrate this all important month recognising the women of the world may we all also aspire to create an abode in our hearts for the Divine Mother. May prosperity through her divine grace be upon all. May women all over be respected as the Divine mother.  Jay Mata Di!!!. Happy Womens Day South Africa.

World Wide Web

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya 

I trust that we have all had a wonderful weekend and really looking forward to the ensuing week with much excitement at what it may offer. What really surprises me of the week that comes is that it heralds the month of August. This really signals as they would say in aviation terms the beginning of the descent. Before we know it the festive festoons and jingles will make their way into the public arenas and we will be counting down to 2012.

Pause for a moment to recall the advent of 2011 to the current day, can we vividly with detail lay an account of what we have done or achieved in these months. If we reflect upon the resolutions we made, how many have we ticked off as completed successfully.

I am reminded of this wonderful story:Once Lord Vishnu and Narada were walking in the garden when  the Lord feels very thirsty and requests  Narada to fetch some water.

Narada goes to a nearby river to take some water. Suddenly he hears from a tribal person shouting “Please wait, don’t take that dirty water, I have pure, distilled and cool water in my house, Please come to my house and accept my most humble seva”.



Sage Narada



 Narada is pleased to get pure, distilled, cool water and therefore, goes to the  house. While offering water to Narada, it suddenly strikes to the tribal person that it is sin to offer only water, without offering any fruits to a sage; hence the tribal person requests Narada to wait for few minutes so that he will bring some fresh fruits from the forest. Narada feels happier for the hospitality of the tribal person and agrees to wait till the tribal person brings fruits from the forest.

 Within few minutes, the tribal person brings some fresh fruits from forest and offer to Narada along with pure, distilled & cool water. Narada with full happiness and contentment eats the fruits and drinks the water and expresses his gratitude to the tribal person.

 Before leaving from the tribal person’s hut, he sees the daughter of tribal person and falls in love with the daughter of the tribal person. Narada expresses his willingness to marry the tribal person’s daughter. The tribal person feels very much excited to hear that Narada is interested in marrying his daughter and immediately agrees for his proposal and performs the marriage of his daughter with Narada Muni at the very moment.

 In due course, Narada Muni is blessed with a son also. Now Narada Muni is fully engaged in his daily busy schedule for earning livelihood for self, family, son, brother-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, etc., ploughing fields, cultivating farm, etc., Narada Muni has no time to breathe, Forgot about remembering SRI HARI, who is waiting in the garden for Narada Muni to return with the water.

 One day, Narada Muni hears a big sound in river. On enquiring, he comes to know that his son has fallen in the river. After sometime, he again hears big sound and he comes to know that his wife has jumped into river to save her son and she too is drowning. Then immediately, Narada comes out of his hut and try to rescue his wife with his Tambura (Narada’s musical instrument) and finally Narada also falls in the River. When Narada is about to drown, he remembers his lord SRI HARI and starts shouting NARAYANA….NARAYANA…NARAYANA….

 On hearing the shouting NARAYANA….NARAYANA…NARAYANA….Lord Sri Hari pats on the shoulder of Narada(who is holding water in a vessel) and asks WHAT HAPPENED?

 Then Narada realized that what all happened is just a dream, but not in reality.

If we reflect on the year that past we can’t but empathize with the situation that Sage Narada found himself in .We are so caught up in the trappings of this world chasing the transient joys we totally forget and deviate from the goals we set. Life will pass us by without achieving any goals and when the reality hits us it will be too late to recover or make amends.

In a similar fashion we also have forgotten about our true journey of life which is self realization.   Caught up in this world wide web of desires and transient joy, we have forgotten the eternal joy and bliss that is within all of us. That we are Amritsya Putra( eternal children of God). That in essence we are pure bliss and that everything else is but Maya (dream), as experienced by Narada.

Let us remove ourselves from this web and begin our journey back to bliss (our original destination) is my sincere prayer. I also take this opportunity to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a blessed Ramadaan fast.